When my iPad got stolen, I had it security protected. (See my reply#23.) With a longer than the default 4-character password (people should use more than 4 characters). I ended up remotely wiping it, and figured it was gone.
My question is, is there a separate command to enter while in your possession to brick it, or does wiping the data do that? Yeah, I should know but don't. I see Internet sales of "bricked" machines for cheap because the "owner forgot" the password. Is it really bricked short of swapping out components?
There is a command to erase the device, but it requires that you know the password for the associated Apple ID. It's Settings->General->Reset->Erase All Content and Settings.
The reason you see the cheap "bricked" machines is because they have been lost/stolen, and perhaps remotely erased. But, the device identifier is still associated with the original Apple ID, and can't be reactivated unless you know the password for the ID.
Apple added this functionality to reduce the value of a stolen device. Since it can't be reactivated, the value is reduced to "parts". However, it's still a significant sum after you part out the pieces that are likely to break.